After setting up your iPhone, you will find pre-installed apps on the phone that you can use and others you have to install from the App Store. When you use your iPhone, you go through many apps, and most of them are left open. If you are concerned about your iPhone’s performance or battery life, you might want to know if the apps on your device run in the background.
So, do apps run in the background on iPhone? Apps do run in the background on the iPhone. Apps run in the background because they fetch data in the background, downloading content and location updates. You can check if apps are running in the background and stop them if you want to. You can choose whether to let the apps run in the background or stop them. You can also select some apps that will run in the background and which ones cannot.
The App Store is filled with thousands of apps that you can install and use on your iPhone. After you have installed the apps on your phone, some usually affect the performance of your iPhone, whether you have opened them or not.
After unboxing your new iPhone and setting it up, the next step is to install apps that you will use for several months or years. After you are done using an app, most of the time, you will swipe it to the side or press the home button, which means the app is not closed.
You might have heard people talking about apps running in the background and how they affect your phone, and you might want to know if the apps in your iPhone are running in the background.
Apps do run in the background on your iPhone, and there are a couple of reasons why they do that. Apps run in the background because they fetch background data, download content, and update the phone’s location.
On your iPhone, you can choose whether the apps can run in the background or not. Apps running in the background may affect your iPhone’s performance by using more data or battery power. You can choose to let the apps continue to run in the background or stop all of them or select which apps have permission to run in the background.
Sometimes, you might go through several apps within a few minutes when using your iPhone. When you switch from one app to another, you might not close down the app completely. The app might not appear on your screen, but it might be running in the background.
The more apps you use on your iPhone, the more they remain in the background. You can choose to stop apps from running in the background or let them continue. Some apps should be left running in the background, such as Apple Maps, because they collect data on your location in the background. If you stop Apple Maps from running in the background, it might not get important location data when needed.
The apps running in the background affect your iPhone, especially data and battery. If an app usually accesses the internet, it will continue to consume data, albeit at a lower rate when it is running in the background.
If you have cellular data on and are not using any app, you might sometimes be surprised why the data bill is high even though you did not use it often. Some apps will also drain your iPhone’s battery faster when they are running in the background.
However, the apps usually use little power from your battery; therefore, you do not need to worry about background apps draining your iPhone’s battery too fast. Some apps running in the background could also affect your iPhone’s memory. If the apps running in the background are too many, they could strain the device’s memory.
The apps on your iPhone running in the background may not be a bad thing and could be beneficial in ensuring the apps perform well. Some of the apps on your iPhone might use the same account, and it is important to sync data from all the apps.
These apps cannot sync data in the foreground; hence they will do it in the background. Running in the background helps the apps find necessary updates and location data. The apps will look for new versions, or any new updates released and notify you. If the apps rely on your location to function, they will keep running in the background to ensure that when you open them, you get accurate data.
How Do I Turn Off Apps Running in the Background on My iPhone?
After using your iPhone for some time, the device will start to run apps in the background as part of its self-maintenance. However, if you do not want the apps to continue running in the background, you can stop them. Here is how you turn off apps running in the background on your iPhone.
You can turn off apps running in the background on your iPhone using “Background App Refresh”. On your iPhone,
- go to “Settings”
- tap “General”
- tap “Background App Refresh” and
- select “Off”.
No apps will run in the background unless you decide to change the settings. When you select “Off” all the apps will be stopped from running in the background. However, you can select which apps will continue running in the background and which will not.
To turn off specific apps, follow the same procedure but do not turn off “Background App Refresh.” Scroll down the list of apps on your iPhone and turn the toggle to “off” on apps you do not want to continue running in the background.
Apps running in the background are normal, and they usually start after you turn on your iPhone. You might not notice the apps are running in the background since the background activities do have a huge impact on your iPhone performance unless your device has some software malfunctions.
Double press the “Home” button if your iPhone has one to know if apps are running in the background. If your iPhone does not have a “Home” button, unlock the screen and swipe up. The list of apps running in the background will appear on your screen.
Some apps will be running in the background but will not appear in the list. Check the list of apps under “Background Refresh Apps” to see all the apps that have permission to run in the background.
Not all apps running in the background on your iPhone are doing the same thing. There are reasons why apps carry out certain activities even when they are not opened, and the most common one is fetching data.
Some apps run in the background because they fetch data from a server to update their content. This happens on apps that provide recent data such as news, mail, and weather. For example, if you have a news app, it will check the server and update the news. When you open the news app, the content on the app will be recent.
Another reason why apps are running in the background is fetching the location of your iPhone. When you install certain apps, you will be prompted to give the apps permission to use your location.
You can choose to decline or give the app permission to use your location. If the app has permission to use your location, it will be running in the background, collecting location data as you move with your iPhone.
Most of the apps that use maps, such as Uber, will run in the background, making it easier for you to get a car when you open the app. You can restrict apps from running in the background by only permitting them to use your location when you open the app.
You are free to turn off apps from running in the background on your iPhone, but it is important to let the apps run in the background. Stopping the apps in the background might help improve your iPhone’s battery life, but it might negatively affect your device’s performance.
Letting the apps run in the background helps them collect crucial data and reduces the time it takes to load an app. The best thing you can do to improve your iPhone’s performance is select non-essential apps and stop them from running in the background. Let all the essential apps on your iPhone continue running in the background.
Are iPhone Apps Running in Background Draining Battery?
All smartphones have several apps running in the background, including iPhones. After installing several apps on your iPhone, you might be concerned by the number of apps running in the background. You might want to know if the apps running in the background are draining your iPhone’s battery.
The iPhone apps running in the background use your device’s battery, but it is not enough to drain it. Contrary to what many people believe, the apps running in the background are not why your iPhone’s battery is draining out quickly. The apps running in the background are not necessarily running like opened apps; rather, they are suspended in the background, making it easy for you to open them when needed.
There might be some activity, but it does not drain the battery as fast as the app would if it were open. You can stop the apps from running in the background, but it will not significantly impact your iPhone’s battery.
If you are concerned that your iPhone’s battery is draining quickly, there are actions you can take that would be more effective than stopping apps from running in the background. You should activate Low Power Mode to preserve your device’s battery life.
Low Power Mode allows your iPhone to perform important tasks only; therefore, some apps will be restricted from running in the background. Low Power Mode also automatically activates when your iPhone’s battery reaches below 20%. To activate Low Power Mode,
- go to “Settings”
- tap on “Battery” and
- toggle “Low Power Mode” to on.
Another thing you should do is turn off Location Services. Location services are important for apps that require information about iPhone locations, such as Apple Maps, Uber, and other delivery apps.
However, the Location Services will quickly drain your iPhone’s battery, especially when many apps have permission to access it. You can turn off Location Services when you do not need it and only turn it back on when an app you are using requests the services to complete a task. To turn off Location Services,
- go to “Settings”
- tap on “Privacy” and
- select “Location Services” to stop your iPhone from sending location data to other apps.
You should also turn off vibrations to preserve your iPhone’s battery. If you need your iPhone to vibrate, you should cut down on notifications. If your iPhone keeps vibrating every minute, your battery will not last long.
- Go to “Settings”
- tap on Notifications and
- customize how certain apps will show notifications.
You should also turn off functions on your iPhone that you are not using, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Airdrop. These functions will always be working when turned on, hence draining your battery. You should also turn off automatic app updates.
If the apps on your iPhone are constantly looking for updates, they will consume more battery power even when not in use. To turn off automatic app updates,
- go to “Settings”
- tap on “App Store” and
- toggle “App Updates” to off.
Finally
Apps running in the background on your iPhone are normal and ensure your device runs smoothly. You can choose to stop the apps from running in the background, allow specific apps to run in the background, or let all apps run in the background.
The apps running in the background will use some of your data and the device’s battery but not excessively. To turn off apps running in the background, you can use the “Background Refresh App” settings or enable Low Power Mode.
Turning off apps running in the background on your iPhone might seem like a good way to preserve battery life, but it does not have any significant impact. Your iPhone will continue to use the same amount of power whether the apps are running in the background or not.
If you want to preserve your iPhone’s battery, you should consider trying other options, such as enabling Low Power mode or turning off power-draining features such as vibrating.
